H-A-P-P-Y-B-D-A-Y

I turned (ahem)...26 a couple days ago. My birthday occurs on one of the most forgotten days of the year = 2 days after Christmas.

I spent the morning and afternoon working out with my Mom and cross country skiing. We had a nice lunch and were JUST returning home, when I slipped on some glare ice, falling REALLY HARD on both kneecaps!!!

It was so painful, my mom brought me into the hospital for x-rays. Doctor said nothing was broken and ordered me to ice and rest for a week (something I really did NOT want to do after eating, consuming, imbibing WAAAAAAAY too much over the holidays!!!) After the hospital, my bday nite was pretty relaxed. We ordered my favorite pizza, Dustin brought over some bday cupcakes and we played "Music-Catchphrase" as a family...overall, the nite didn't really go as planned, but given the circumstances was still enjoyable.

26 years old! I can't believe it!

Here's to the beginning of a new year and a new career (hopefully)!

The Parry Family Christmas

Like most families, our Christmas Eve has several traditions. We begin the nite snacking on many delicious treats prepared by my parents and slurp yummy Christmas beverages. Actually...this takes up most of the nite...we don't actually begin bringing all the presents under the tree to the basement until after 10.
Usually my brother and I bring all the gifts downstairs and sort them by recipients. I don't know who started this organizational neuroticism, but it does help save time and keep everyone on pace (fairly)...I remember when my brother and I were younger and the fits we'd throw if the other person had opened "more" gifts than the other... sigh...those were the days.
It goes without saying that much sarcasm is present during the gift unwrapping. Each person is given undivided attention while they slowly unveil their treasure...which is accompanied by moans and groans from the audience.

The cookie decorating contest has become a new tradition as well. Pictured above, are the winners of this year's contest.

During the afternoon mom finishes slaving away in the kitchen, preparing the MOST delicious cookie cut-out recipe I have ever tasted. Taste aside, our family has some of the most creative, most clever (and sometimes most unappetizing looking) Christmas cookies.

Dustin and Mike proved to be the big winners this year. Their patience was well-deserving of the (shared) honors. I, on the otherhand, produced many simple, more edible varieties :)

We don't have a lot of kiddies around for the holidays....and no, I am pretty sure that Mike and I are NOT interested in making that happen just yet!.... but my cousin Priscilla made a short appearance on Christmas day. I love these cute pictures of her in mid-rip, anticipating new toys and dolls.

It was great to have my brother home for the holidays. Though he goes to a university that is only 3 hours away...I rarely see him anymore :(

I think that will change this summer however - when he and I both move HOME for a couple of months inbetween jobs!!!

Perhaps the coolest gift this year was from my Grandma. She bought our family a Nintendo Wii!!! It is SUCH a blast! :) Below are a couple pics of Mike and Dustin battling it out in bowling.

Excessive gifts, drinks and food aside...the holidays are really about family. I am more and more thankful each year that I have such an incredibly supportive family. A family that I appreciate year around, but even more so during the Christmas season! Merry Christmas Mom and Dad! Thank you for making our Christmas so memorable! :)

I love you guys!

Dustin's family Xmas (Part I)

Our week-long Christmas festivities began nearly 2 weeks ago, in Randall with Dustin's family. Several nites of playing cards until 3 AM and way too many of his mom's delicious sugar cookies, made for many sleepless (but memorable) nites! It was my first Christmas with his family and they proved to be wonderful, hospitable hosts!
Dustin and I exchanged Christmas gifts beforehand...and he surprised me with a new set of cross country skiis! I think this is going to be the start of one of our new winter obsessions!!! :)

Thanks for inviting me to your Christmas Gloria and Tom!
I really appreciated the thoughtful gifts as well!
Looking forward to our "Girls' Day" @ the spa...

Christmas Around the World

Last week, after the semester ended and grades were submitted, my parents offered to host my students for an American Christmas party. 9 of 14 students came to the party and below are some pictures from the fabulous evening!
Each student brought an ethnic dish from their home country. We ate delicious foods from all parts of the world and supplied a few American dishes for them to try. I also made an Egg Nog dessert drink -which they found "interesting...too sweet...delicious...disgusting..." hahaha, so it goes trying new things in a new country!

This semester's class was especially close. I had an even representation of students from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. To my surprise, they were MORE than suportive of one another and actually made a few (hopefully) lasting friendships!
Back row: Tokiko (Japan), Nicole (Brazil) and Simeng (China)

Front row: Sherry (Saudi Arabia), Franck (Ivory Coast), Suyan (China), Kendi (Kenya), Jiayi (China) and Irene (Tanzania)

So you think you can dance?

My mom was a wonderful hospitable host (as usual)!

Dad provided the entertainment (as usual)!

Thanks SO much to my loving parents for their interest in working with this international population!

Most of the students sent emails the following the day saying things like, "I feel like I understand American culture and family more now" and "This was the best nite of my life in America".

Wow! My parents are pretty influential!!!

Below, Simeng treated us to a virtuoso piano performance.

Music certainly is a universal passion...

Dustin got to know my students pretty well that nite....we won't go into details but it has a little something to do w/ imbibing traditions throughout the world...hmmm

This party is one to be treasured by us all.

Best of luck to my students as they forge ahead into University life here in Minnesota! Good luck and Happy New Year!

pre-xmas-fest

Every year in December, my parents host the Parry Annual Christmas Party. This year's celebration included about 40 of their high school friends and neighbors. I didn't put a lot of their pictures on here (as they hold respectable jobs around town... :) but...

I thought I'd put a few of the appropriate ones below:
Guitar Hero was a huge hit.
Even amongst the older folks - everyone wanted to take a stab at their dream of becoming a RoCkStAr (if only for one nite), proving that age ain't nothin' but a number. some rocked out (above) others danced the nite away
(aren't my parents SO cute in the picture below!?!)

Paff - sporting a not-so-obvious advertisement for the Big Buck - provided wine tasting (a true entrepeneur finds ways to profit off of anything).

A rather nice addition to the usual Parry festivities...

Laura & I were Guitar Hero groupies...

Pictured below: My parents are THE cUtEsT!

I only hope to be so happy after 30+ years of marriage... :)

XoOXoxOOXxo [love you both so much!]

...our wine connosieurs are pictured belOw...

well, we didn't drink any wine that nite, but I think Dustin could give you a few stories about his Tequila encounters....(gross).... well, those that he can remember anyway. As for me, responsible partygoer that I am - woke up after a short but splendid evening of sleep, feeling fantastic!

INH holiday party

One of many winter gatherings...

Dustin's company party was last Friday nite. They are such a competitive company, so it was no surprise that their evening entertainment consisted of pool, darts, air hockey and foosball tournaments.

Dustin is a wonderful partner to have during such events - so in the picture above we display some of our earnings.... dart champs!!!
And below, though no awards were given, my Guitar Hero skills are fast improving :) I think I need to add 'the Hero' to my xmas list :)

ESL 201

This semester I taught ESL 201: Listening & Speaking at SCSU.

I taught this course in the Fall of '06 as well, so teaching it a second time proved to be much easier. It has been a really successful semester and I am so proud of my students.
As if you can't tell from these photos, this class was so lively, entertaining and charismatic. Their energy was contagious and made the entire semester so eventful and rewarding!

I shouldn't compare,...but I can't help but admit that this semester's group was The Best! I will miss them terribly, but am happy to have helped them grow as English learners and communicators. Best of luck to them in their future endeavors @ SCSU.

Back row: Eunice (Tunisia), Sharahzad (Saudi Arabia), Nicole (Brazil), Simeng (China), Kiran (Nepal), Jennifer (Kenya), Suyan (China), Irene (Tanzania), Emmanuel (Ghana)

Front row: Tokiko (Japan), Jiayi (China), Franck (Ivory Coast), Ernest (Liberia) - not pictured, Faris (Saudi Arabia)

going to the chapel...

Kari and Joe's winter wedding was probably more than they had planned for as it fell on the biggest snow storm of the season (as of yet). The blustery winds and 4-wheel drive conditions may have kept some friends and family away, but Dustin and I never say 'no' to a party :) The reception was at the Territories Golf Course - very private and intimate. It was a lovely celebration...

Where are our Christmas colors?
Looks like we are already looking fwd to spring...
We looked like Easter eggs :)

Kari is such a B-E-A-utiful bride!

Where's your husband?!

Looking fwd to see the BOTH of you soon!